Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 award cash to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.
He was presented with the award on 16 October as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots played in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his live tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to issues stemming from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that helped performers and audiences.
"The idea that money from shows in major spaces supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.
In Pulp won the prize in the year 1996 for their album the album, vocalist Cocker stated that the act would donate their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, artist she shared her award between multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, the band gave their prize money to the youth organization that supported their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People donated their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," said vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust shared it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
